The bill: enables the Commonwealth to enter into a loan agreement with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for the purpose of the ACT undertaking an asbestos remediation program and for purposes related to that program; and appropriates the Consolidated Revenue Fund for $750 million for the loan of money to the ACT.

to reflect the consolidation of the legislative frameworks of the publication of Commonwealth Acts and the registration of Commonwealth instruments; clarify the definition of ‘legislative instrument’ and ‘legislative character’; provide that certain instruments are notifiable instruments which are registrable but not subject to parliamentary scrutiny or sunsetting; establish the Federal Register of Legislation; and allow the First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial changes to Acts and instruments in the Register;

Acts Interpretation Act 1901

to: clarify references to ministers, departments and other government authorities; and confirm the continued validity of the exercise of powers, functions and duties under Commonwealth agreements following machinery of government changes. Also consequentially repeals four Acts and amends 51 Acts.

to: prevent the expiry of active constituent approvals and prevent the application of dates after which a registration cannot be renewed; remove the requirement for applications to be made to re-approve active constituents or re-register chemical products; enable the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to require information to be provided about substances supplied as a chemical product; simplify how variations to approvals and registrations are processed by APVMA; and enable APVMA to charge a fee when it provides copies of documents in its possession; and

to abolish the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation (AWDC); provides for transitional arrangements, including the transfer of AWDC’s property management functions, and assets and liabilities to the Commonwealth; and makes consequential amendments to the